Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Home > Branching Out Booklists & Posters > Branching Out: Books for Fans of Julia Donaldson

Branching Out: Books for Fans of Julia Donaldson

icon - tree

If you like Julia Donaldson, try these…

Julia Donaldson’s books are firm favourites in many households and classrooms, with a number of her stories (like The Gruffalo and Stick Man) being considered modern classics. Working with different illustrators, Julia has written over 150 books and is best known for her easy-to-learn rhyming stories and memorable characters.

We’ve put together a list of ten similar books for fans of Julia Donaldson. Readers who love the rhyming pattern of Donaldson’s stories might like to try Aliens Love Underpants or the Fish Who Could Wish. Children looking for more larger-than-life characters will enjoy the Giant of Jum or The Bumblebear – all about a bear desperate to fit in at bee school. For stories that are brilliant to join in with, we recommend Where’s My Teddy? or the popular favourite Oi Frog. If you’re looking for a funny new story with a wildly imaginative premise, try Octopus Shocktopus or the timeless classic The Giant Jam Sandwich.

Browse the full list below of books for children looking for what to read next after Julia Donaldson…

 

SAVE 20% with Peters

Visit our booklists on Amazon

Support independent bookshops

Books for Fans of Julia Donaldson

Rachel Bright
 & Jim Field
Picturebook
A bestselling story about confidence, self-esteem, and a shy little mouse who sets out on a journey to find his roar.In a dry dusty place where the sand sparkled gold, stood a mighty flat rock, all craggy and old. And under that rock in a tiny house, lived the littlest, quietest, meekest brown mouse.Fed up of being ignored by the other animals, Mouse wishes he could roar like Lion. But, as he discovers, even the biggest, bossiest people are scared sometimes ... and even the smallest creatures can have the heart of a lion! 
Claire Freedman
 & Ben Cort
Picturebook

This laugh-out-loud favourite continues to be a popular rhyming book for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) children, with its whimsical narrative, catchy rhymes and humorous storyline (pants AND space aliens – what’s not to love?).

The playful text and super fun illustrations by Ben Cort capture the imagination of young readers, while the rhythmic flow and repetition make it hard to resist joining in. All in all an absolute essential for delighting young children at storytime.

 

Kes Grey
 & Jim Field
Picturebook
The laughter never ends with Oi Frog and Friends!Jam-packed with the silliest of animals, this bestselling rhyming story will have the youngest of readers in fits of laughter.Cats sit on mats, hares sit on chairs, mules sit on stools and gophers sit on sofas. But Frog does not want to sit on a log. Jam-packed with animals and silliness, this original rhyming story is guaranteed to get children giggling!
Patricia Cleveland-Peck
 & David Tazzyman
Picturebook
Imagine playing minigolf with meerkats or building a sandcastle with an armadillo! And don't even think about eating candyfloss when there's an albatross about! Jam-packed with crazy creatures, this brilliant new book from the creators of You Can't Take an Elephant on the Bus , You Can't Let an Elephant Drive a Digger and You Can't Call an Elephant in an Emergency is riotous, laugh-out-loud fun!
Jez Alborough
Picturebook

This one is an oldie but a goodie. This fast-paced, hilarious, rhyming text follows Eddie. who is looking for his teddy in the woods. It’s super-fun to join in with the repeated rhymes and readers will love the HUGE surprise in store for Eddie when he eventually finds what he’s looking for. This book is a timeless classic, gorgeously illustrated throughout.


Peter Bently
 & Steven Lenton
Picturebook
A brilliantly bonkers story about an octopus who lives on the roof, by two award-winning and bestselling picture book creators.When a giant octopus arrives, the children LOVE their new friend; it makes the perfect slide and is fantastic at football! But some of the grown-ups aren't so pleased. Will they drive it away . . . or will they realise just how helpful an octopus can be?A warm and witty rhyming story about welcoming newcomers. Sunglasses at the ready - this book has zingy fluorescent ink on the cover and inside illustrations.
Janet Burroway & John Vernon Lord
Picturebook
How would you solve the problem if 1 million wasps invaded your town? The residents of Itching Down find a creative solution by trying to construct a giant jam sandwich to trap the wasps. This classic rhyming picturebook and BooksForTopics HQ favourite has stood the test of time and is always a hit in KS1 classrooms.
John Bush
 & Korky Paul
Picturebook
Deep in the ocean lives a fish whose wishes come true! He wishes for all sorts of crazy things - a castle, a car, and even fine clothes to wear. But he is a rather foolish fish and one day he wishes to be just like all the other fish . . . perhaps this will be the one wish he wishes he never wished! The rhythmical text is great to read aloud and Korky Paul's illustrations take to you to a crazy underwater world. With its neat punch line, this is a book that children will just love to hear (and join in with) over and over again.
Nadia Shireen
Picturebook
Norman is a bear. A bear who LOVES honey. According to Norman, there can never be enough honey; he needs to get his paws on more, more, more ! And who has the most honey? The bees, of course! So, dressed up in his very best bee onesie, he thinks he looks quite convincing as he infiltrates Bee School with his eye on their huge honey supply. But how long will his disguise last? And when the hive is endangered, can he finally discover his true destiny and become. . . The Bumblebear ?
Elli Woollard
 & Benji Davies
Picturebook
"Fee!" he said, and "Fi!" he said, and "Fo!" he said and "Fum!" Look out children, the Giant of Jum is grumpy and hungry and he's off in search of a tasty snack. And the tastiest of all is a boy called Jack! But Jack and his friends don't see a scary giant, they see a magically tall man - a man who can fetch lost balls and rescue cats from trees! Perhaps this hungry giant is softer than he seems... An incredible rhyming text and a brilliant, big-hearted twist on a classic fairy tale, from the uniquely talented author and poet, Elli Woollard, and award-winning illustrator, Benji Davies. The Giant of Jum also contains an important message for all: don't eat kids, eat cake!

SAVE 20% with Peters

Visit our booklists on Amazon

Support independent bookshops

Booklists you might also like...

Branching Out: Books for Fans of Julia Donaldson

Related Resources

Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Previous
Next
[["Downloadable Poster","https:\/\/www.booksfortopics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/poster-branching-out-julia-donaldson.jpg","https:\/\/www.booksfortopics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BranchingOutJuliaDonaldsonBFT.pdf"],["Purchase Book Pack","https:\/\/www.booksfortopics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2022-11-29-at-00.14.56.png","https:\/\/peters.co.uk\/book-page\/9789990208269"]]

Subscribe to our newsletter

Your Review

Stone Girl Bone Girl

review

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?

yes

Curriculum links (if relevant)

Curriculum links (if relevant)

Any other comments

Any other comments